Nick & Amy Penna’s Tulum, Mexico Guide

March 23, 2017

We recently returned from an amazing getaway to beautiful, exotic Tulum. After falling in love with this resort town on Mexico’s Caribbean coast, we recommend it to anyone looking for a super relaxed, yet totally hip, place to escape the hustle and bustle. See below for our couple’s travel guide on where to stay, where to eat and much more.

Place to Stay

HIS: Situated directly on the beach, Sanara is an eco-chic luxury lodge that has its own wellness center and yoga retreat studio. The rooms are all individual bungalows and guests are encouraged to walk around the premise barefoot – they actually have buckets of water at the bungalows’ front doors for rinsing sandy feet! Also, the hotel has a great vegan/vegetarian café that’s perfect for a sit-down meal or casual take-out.

HERS: Be Tulum is vibrant and lively – a great choice if you’d like to stay at more of a hot spot that isn’t too crowded or considered too trendy. The on-site bar has a lounge-like atmosphere and features an amazing drink menu. During the day, it’s the perfect place for relaxing and sipping spicy margaritas while
House music plays in the background.

Activity

HIS: No trip to Tulum is complete without a visit to the Mayan ruins, one of the most well-known archaeology sites in the world. It’s worth a day trip to explore (and climb!) this ancient architecture that overlooks the Caribbean Sea.

HERS: Drop by Sanara hotel for a rejuvenating yoga class in the glass-enclosed studio that offers gorgeous views of the ocean. The classes are open to anyone, even if you’re not staying at the hotel.

Places to Eat

HIS: Grab a bite at Casa Banana, an open-air restaurant and yet another place where walking around barefoot is totally acceptable! It’s an Argentinian menu and the food is cooked over open flames. The cocktail menu has so many delicious options, too.

HERS: Stop by Posada Margherita, a beach club and restaurant where you can make a day of it. Park yourself down and stay past sunset. The menu is all fresh, handmade pasta with a taste of authentic Italy (the owner is from New York, by way of Italy).

Where to Drink

HIS: Casa Jaguar has DJs spinning tunes from 2-6 PM and it’s a can’t-miss spot for Happy Hour. Bathing suits are welcome here, so feel free to go right from the cabana to the club.

HERS: Be sure to swing by Gitano, a bar that serves all Mezcal cocktails; distilled alcoholic beverages made from any type of agave plant that is native to Mexico. The ambience makes it feel like you’re in a jungle nightclub; it’s completely dark with candles scattered throughout. The crowd is diverse, featuring travelers from Brooklyn and Malibu and DJs straight from Paris.

Where to Shop

HIS: There’s a funky little store called Bendito where you can browse homemade hammocks and dreamcatchers – a very popular sight in Tulum.

HERS: When visiting a tropical destination, there’s no such thing as too much beach attire. Pick up a new bikini and pretty sarong at the Wanderlust boutique.

Where to Snack

HIS: Sanara’s restaurant, The Real Coconut, sells a variety of tasty smoothies, elixirs and healthy shots – I couldn’t get enough. My favorite is definitely the “Raw Love” smoothie, made with dates, bananas, almond butter, flax seed and coconut milk, and blended with ice. It’s so good that I’ve been recreating it at home since returning from our vacation.